Electric vehicles, or EVs, are becoming increasingly popular. Even so, a large portion of the population is still hesitant about purchasing an EV for several reasons. Some find the purchase and maintenance price too high, while others have range anxiety. If you plan to buy an electric car anytime soon, it’s best to read up on some barriers to purchase, as these might help you decide whether an EV truly suits you and your family!
Range Anxiety or Fear Their Battery Will Run Out
One of the top fears electric vehicle owners have is range anxiety, or the fear that their vehicle will not have enough charge until they reach their intended destination. Forbes notes, “Even with more long-range options and increased public charging locations, especially for faster charging, battery-powered cars make drivers anxious about taking trips or everyday drives.”
They Often Catch on Fire
In general, electric vehicles aren’t more susceptible to catching fire than fuel-powered cars. However, though this is the case, people keep seeing reports of electric cars catching fire online, increasing people’s negative perception of the vehicle. Aside from this, The Byte published an article stating that Chevrolet had to recall over 60,000 of one of its electric vehicle models because the cars could “spontaneously combust.”
It’s Too Expensive
Cars are expensive, and an average fuel-powered car can cost around $48,000 in the United States. Electric vehicles are significantly more expensive, with an average cost of around $54,000. Higher-end electric car models can range anywhere from $65,000 to hundreds of thousands of dollars!
There Aren’t Enough Used Ones Available in the Market
Because the electric vehicle market is relatively new, there aren’t enough used electric cars yet. Because of supply and demand, the cost of a second-hand electric vehicle is still much larger than the average used fuel-powered car. For example, an average used fuel-powered car would cost around $30,000, while the average for used electric vehicles was around $43,000. It’s almost as expensive as a new fuel-powered car!
Higher Insurance Cost
The more expensive the car being insured is, the more expensive its insurance will be. Progressive explains, “An electric car’s higher price tag and more complex equipment means it may cost more to repair or replace if it’s in an accident.”
Lack of Charging Ports
One of electric vehicle owners’ top frustrations is the need for charging ports. While one may be able to charge their cars at home, what about on the road, especially for long road trips? NPR shares, “Chargers on the road are really important; Americans love a road trip. Studies actually show this is the number one barrier keeping people from buying electric vehicles, even ahead of sticker prices.”
Charging Is Too Time-Consuming
Another big pain point for consumers is the time needed to charge an electric vehicle. On average, a fuel-powered car can go in and out of a gas station within minutes and have a full gas tank. However, according to the US Department of Transportation, at Level 1 charging, electric vehicles can get from 0 to 80% after 5 to 6 hours; at Level 2, you can go from 0 to 80% after 4 to 10 hours! And, even at Direct Current Fast Charging, you can only go from 0 to 80% after 20 minutes to 1 hour!
Not Suitable for Outstation Travel or Longer Car Trips
According to Octopus Electric Vehicles, the average range of an electric vehicle is around 211 miles. This could be a big pain point for consumers planning a big road trip, especially with the lack of charging ports across the country.
Electric Bills Will Skyrocket
Electric vehicle owners often prefer to charge at charging ports and pay there than charge their vehicles at home. This is because charging your cars at home could make your bills skyrocket. Mark Rawson, the senior vice president of strategy and partnerships at an EV charging optimization platform, was quoted in CNET, explaining that “charging your electric vehicle at home during peak rate times with a typical Level 2 charger is ‘the equivalent of adding a whole new home’ to your energy bill.”
Gas Cars Deliver Better Performance
Electric vehicles have been hyped up because they can accelerate quicker than gas cars. However, electric vehicles cannot go faster, especially for longer periods of time. Gas cars have significant performance advantages when it comes to sustaining top speeds for longer periods of time.
Battery Cuts Into Passenger and Cargo Space
Because electric vehicles run on battery charge, they require significantly bigger batteries to operate. Therefore, some electric cars compromise space for their battery packs. Other hybrid vehicles also have batteries that cut into passenger or cargo space since they need space for both a gas engine and a battery.
Batteries Wear Out
Charging at Level 1 or Level 2 can be a chore. However, constantly charging your vehicle using Direct Current Fast Charging can ruin your battery. Kia Victoria explains, “Battery performance and durability can deteriorate if the DC charger is used constantly. Use of DC charging should be minimized to help prolong battery life.”
Batteries Are Expensive to Replace
An average car battery replacement costs around $75 to $200. However, in the rare case that your electric vehicle needs a change, their batteries could set you back anywhere from $6,500 to $20,000, depending on the size, manufacturer, and type of battery pack!
It’s Not Easy to Get an EV
People are getting more and more interested in electric vehicles. However, to this day, production has yet to keep up. In fact, CBC Canada shares that an order for an electric vehicle can take months—or even a year—to be completed. So, if you need a new car now, an electric vehicle won’t be a great choice at the moment.
It’s Difficult and Expensive to Get an EV Repaired
Electric vehicles are relatively new, and few repair shops know how to work around certain issues. Aside from this, parts of an electric car can be very hard to purchase. These, alongside other concerns, make it very expensive and arduous to repair an electric vehicle. Road & Track shares, “EVs cost substantially more to fix, at $6,787 per collision versus $4,420 for cars of all model years in 2022.”
Winter Makes EVs Basically Useless
The cold weather in winter significantly affects an electric vehicle’s battery. Because of this, they would have longer charging times and a temporary reduction or a lower capacity in range during winter. According to CBC Canada, “Electric vehicles can lose up to 30% of their range in freezing temperatures.”
Some People Think They Still Need Fuel to Run an EV
One of the significant hurdles electric vehicles need to overcome is miseducation. After all, many potential consumers have misconceptions about how electric cars work. Some even think there’s no point in owning an electric vehicle because they would still need fuel to work.
Making Electric Cars Creates More Emissions
One of the main selling points of electric vehicles is that they are better for the environment. However, manufacturing a battery that an electric car needs produces about 60% more carbon emissions. Aside from this, the NY Post notes, “Brakes and tires on EVs release 1,850 times more particle pollution compared to modern tailpipes.”
Their Batteries Need Rare Metals
Electric vehicles run on batteries, which need a lot of lithium. They also need copper, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and aluminum. However, metals like cobalt emit a lot of things that are toxic to humans. Sadly, men, women, and children harvest cobalt with little to no protective equipment.
They Are Only as Green as Their Power Sources
Yes, electric vehicles can be helpful to the environment. However, just like the creation of their batteries leads to more carbon emissions, where and how they’re charged can also negatively affect the environment. For example, only when an electric vehicle is charged using renewable energy can its negative environmental impact decrease.
